September 2002

Responsibility for the National Stolen Lorry Load Desk, which shares intelligence about freight crime among police forces and industry, is being transferred from Essex Police to the Metropolitan Police, gaining new resources and technology in the process.

The move follows an agreement under which Tracker Network is to sponsor the NSLLD service (known colloquially as "the Desk"), as well as becoming the main sponsor of the organisation's first trade show, HGV Crime Solutions. This takes place at Watford on 19 November, and is co-sponsored by Eurowatch.

The organisation also has wide support from the anti-theft industry and from commercial users such as Securicor Omega, TDG, Tibbett & Britten and UPS.

The Desk reports that the value of goods stolen from lorries in Britain last year was more than £150 million, and estimates that the total loss could add to £500 million when account is taken of the costs of investigation, recovery, increased insurance costs and loss of business.

 

Tracker claims to be able to reduce the risk dramatically. Its theft detection equipment is installed in vehicles and aircraft of all 52 UK police forces, and in 27,000 users' vehicles nationwide.

One of the key features of the NSLLD is its central database of lorry crime, which is said to be invaluable in connecting otherwise isolated incidents and helping authorities coordinate detection efforts.